“Not Losing The Faith”: Gael Monfils Optimistic About Winning a Grand Slam Following 20 Years of Service on Tour

The 35-year-old Frenchman Gael Monfils fell to Italy’s Matteo Berrettini in a gruelling five-set quarterfinals clash. Monfils had a fantastic pre-season leading up to the Australian Open. He won the Adelaide International 1 against Karen Khachanov in the finals. He also came into the quarterfinals without having dropped a set.

Seeded 17th, Monfils fought back valiantly from 2 sets down to clinch the third and fourth sets, forcing the match to a decider. However, the Italian got the better of him, and he lost the final set 6-2.

Gael Monfils says he’s not losing hope

Gael had a sloppy start, with the Italian capitalising on his errors. Berrettini broke Monfils to love in the fifth game. After taking the first set, Berrettini was off to a steady start in the second. However, Monfils also stepped his game up a notch, but in short bursts. Berrettini managed to survive 10 deuces on his service game, with 25 points bring played in a single game.

Monfils finally started showing the form with which he had been playing this tournament and got his first break of serve, helped by Berrettini’s first double fault in the third set. He played big in the fourth set, levelling the match, but Berrettini broke in the first game of the deciding set.

Also read: ‘I’m Not Finished Yet’: Gael Monfils Issues Warning Ahead of Quarterfinal Match at Australian Open 2022

Berrettini notched a 4-0 lead and, even though Monfils held 2 of his serves, the Italian soon won the match.

He spoke about how he was not losing out on hope, that he will get at least one Grand Slam title under his belt. “Somehow I’m not losing the faith. I need one time…I won’t win 20, but one time, just one time I need. I’m working for this. I still believe I can do it. It’s hard…it’s been 20 years that I’m not doing the good thing, but who knows? This year it might click,” said Monfils.

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Berrettini becomes the first Italian to reach the semifinals at the Australian Open

When

Matteo Berrettini won his fourth-round match against Pablo Carreno Busta, he has already become the only Italian to reach the quarterfinals of all the four Grand Slams- the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and the US Open. When he won his quarterfinal match against Monfils, he became the first Italian to reach the semifinals at the Australian Open.

He is also hoping fellow compatriot and quarterfinalist, 20-year-old Jannik Sinner will become the second Italian in the Australian Open semifinals.